Part 35 (1/2)

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

A remarkably dandified Tommy; a solemn and significant Tommy, who shook hands solemnly with his sister and Carron and then sat down and took off his gloves.

”I have come on business, Brigit,” he announced quietly.

Carron rose. ”Then I will go. Thanks very much, Brigit, for your hospitality--and I will look in again in three or four weeks, if you don't mind.”

Tommy's frame of mind was too dignified to permit of his staring, but he was obviously surprised at Carron's presence, and when the man had gone he said with considerable importance: ”Since when has Carron been calling on you?”

”This is the first time. Oh, Tommy--should you have come?”

”I have just left mother at Aunt Emily's,” he answered, his voice explaining plainly what his dignity forbade his putting into words.

So her mother knew!

”New clothes; also gloves; also something smelly and _very_ nice on your hair!”

Brigit bent over and kissed him tenderly, her face very sweet with affection. ”Please elucidate, little brother. Has mother sent you?”

”No. She knows I have come, though.”

”Some tea?”

”If you please.”

So she lit the kettle and going to a cupboard produced two enchanting-looking white jars. ”Marmalade or cherry jam?”

”I think--neither, please,” returned Kingsmead, with an effort. ”I--am not hungry.”

It was all very mysterious, and Brigit, scanning the little boy's face, saw that he was nervous as well as important; pale as well as elegant in attire. So she made the tea and gave him a cup in silence.

After a long pause he cleared his throat and began. ”Brigit, of course I'm only a kid--and all that sort of thing.”

”Yes, dear?”

”And you are grown up, and have a great deal more--well, experience than I. And then you are very beautiful, and I am--not,” he added with a flicker of irrepressible mirth that was immediately quenched.

”Yes, Tommy?”

”Well--I just say all that, dear old thing, so you won't think me sidey, you know.”

”I don't, Tommy. In fact, I have sometimes observed in you symptoms of almost radical----”

”Don't laugh, Brigit,” he broke in with a quaint wave of his hand. ”What I mean to say is simply this. I am, although so young, and not very big--the Head of the Family.”

This magnificent declaration was so unlike his usual style of conversation that his sister with difficulty refrained from laughing.

”Well, Tommy--yes, there would be no use in my denying that you, not I, are the Earl of Kingsmead. But--your manner is somewhat solemn; surely you are not thinking of marrying?”